U grad assistants lose decision on union vote

The state Bureau of Mediation Services rejected a claim filed by graduate assistants at the University of Minnesota, alleging the university squelched their attempts to form a union.

On April 5, graduate assistants and the United Auto Workers (UAW) filed an unfair election practice charge stemming from results of the March 26 union election.

While the results of the March 26 vote showed 62 percent of the 2,990 graduate assistants who voted opposed the union and 38 percent were in favor of unionizing, union organizers said the defeat was the result of unfair election practices.

The bureau stated that after reviewing submitted proof from both parties, they found "no substantial evidence that the employer policy in question affected or may have substantially affected the election results."

Richard Kaspari, the St. Paul attorney representing the group briefly commented, saying: "It's fair to say that we were very disappointed."

Kaspari said he didn't feel comfortable commenting further, but said an appeal is possible, which would take the case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.